Target Audience
The target audience for the Digital Arts Showcase project were it to be a real project would be NWTC students, family and friends, NWTC faculty, and prospective employers.
How the Design Supports the Audience
The website design goal on my end was a clean approach. I feel this design caters to both students and professionals. Mobile responsiveness is important in this day and age, especially towards younger generations who more than likely are primarily mobile device users. So a straightforward approach that provides users information quickly and clearly was the goal. Nothing fancy, just what they need to know and how to get where they want to go was the idea.
Message
The message is pretty straightforward, there is a student showcase of skills and talent. I tried to provide faux showcases and portfolios in each program to entice clicks or continued interest. My site communicates where and when the showcase is happening, what will be displayed, and what someone attending should potentially expect.
How the Design Supports the Message
This site right away tells you what the event is, it also tells when and where it is happening while giving you a way to explore further via the program cards.
Goal
The goal I think is to provide information for a student showcase, while providing information and links to student portfolios.
How the Design Supports the Goal
In this project there are clear links heading to the programs and student portfolios. I've given the user clear ways to find information on the showcase. The event details are front and center on the homepage, and the layout makes it easy to navigate between different sections of the site.
Calls To Action
My website features several calls to action designed to guide visitors:
- "Explore Programs" button in the hero section
- "View Program" links within each program card
- "Contact Us" options throughout the site
- Archive year selection cards for exploring past showcases
How the Design Supports the CTAs
Visual contrast using the accent gold color against the primary blue to make buttons stand out
Design Summary
I tried to think of business solutions rather than design. Although for me that was hard. I try really hard to make things look "right" which may not be how a business looks at a website.
Layout
My layout was based off previous experiences and research on modern website layouts. It is easy to navigate across the site and find the information you need.
Colors
For colors I just went with an NWTC palette, seemed appropriate. Also easy to change.
Typography
For typography, I chose fonts that I personally liked but are popular.
Overall Summary
For this project I tried to create a functional website that gets the point across without unnecessary elements. My thought process was usability and information. If this were an actual client site I think I would gather actual student work and change things based on that. All and all I think my site showss information needed to anyone looking at NWTCs Digital Arts Showcase.